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Vista didn’t really do Windows brand any justice and Microsoft have responded with promising a release or a new operating system in 2009 – Microsoft Window 7. There are loads of benefits to this new system and from looking at the Beta it seems to fix a lot of the problems with Vista. Some of the new functions to look out for:

* Improved task bar with full screen preview.
This has always been a problem with users who open on average of 7 – 15 windows at once. I love the invisible window option.
* Jump Lists
A nice convenient way to reach recent files or files you want to access often.
* New User Interface
There is a bunch of new copy and paste features, more open, re-size, close, maximise, arrange windows options – but it still has the familiar windows style (in fact it does look branding wise just like Vista).
* Internet Explorer 8
Mozilla 3 is currently my choice of browser having lost my patience with IE7 and memory issues. IE7 is still much quick at opening that Mozilla but the overall experience isn’t as good. IE8 plans to fixs this and pull back some of the market share it is losing. Some new functions to look out for with this release are;
o Accelerators
Highlight text or info from a page and select from a number of online services like address look up and
o Webslices
Which monitors changes to websites like weather, sport scores etc.
* Improved Device Management
A single device windows to manage all devices on a computer and Device Stage which allows you to interact better with devices seeing it’s status and run common tasks.
* Home Group
Home groups is a easy way to setup a home network. Microsoft has managed to make this extremely simple to share files, videos or music but with more security.
* Faster and increased performance
* Extended battery life for laptops and portable devices
* Action Center to sort problems easier
* Windows Touch
After all Microsoft’s work on their touchscreen devices and tables of recent this should be a great feature albeit I think devices that start using this will take a while to appear. The problems with touch screens like the Eee PC is that your arms starts to ache after extended use – but it is great for quick tasks like selecting a film, sending an email or checking some news.
* Improved Voice and Handwriting recognition

This should start appearing mid 2009 and I hope to see Windows 7 SP1 (Service Pack) out by the end of the year – just in time for Christmas when gadget and electronics sales are up again